28/04/2023

Three kind-hearted Builth Wells cousins have raised £700 for the Wales Air Ambulance and Diabetes UK by baking their own cakes and selling them to the community.

Ellen Nicholls, 12, Henry Davies, 10, and Amelia Davies, aged nine-years-old, decided to hold a cake sale during the Easter holidays, following on from the success of their previous cake sale last year, in which they raised £709 for the people of Ukraine. 

The schoolchildren wanted to raise money for the all-Wales Charity after attending the Wales Entertainment Festival. Ellen, who is a Cantal Young Farmers Club (YFC) member, and her cousin Henry, a member of Pontfaen YFC, were inspired by the announcement that The Wales Federation of Young Farmers Chairman, Hefin Evans, had planned to take part in the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge on August 12 for Wales Air Ambulance.

Henry, who is a pupil at Llanelwedd Primary School, also pledged to join the climb to conquer the final peak, Pen Y Fan, and raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance and Diabetes UK.

The cousins felt baking cakes was an excellent way to raise funds and created posters to promote their cake stall.

They whipped up an assortment of delights, including biscoff, chocolate orange, and lemon muffins, rocky road, Easter nests, tray bakes and chocolate cake.

The trio were also helped by their younger siblings Harry Nicholls aged seven-years-old, George Davies, aged six-years-old, and cousin Ieuan Edwards, aged four-years-old. 

Pontfaen YFC County Vice Chairman Raiff Devlin, who attended the cake sale, said : “It is great to see junior members of YFC giving their time to support two very special charities.

“Thank you for the delicious cakes and congratulations to you all for raising so much money. Keep up the good work!”

The cousins would like to thank everyone who supported them, especially; Richard Vellacott, Tesco Community Champion in Llandrindod Wells, Stuart Williams of Co-op Brecon Road Store, Castell Howell in Cross Hands and Sunny Side Eggs Powys, for generously donating ingredients for their cakes.

Henry said: 'We enjoy planning fundraising events and were over the moon to raise £700 for Wales Air Ambulance and Diabetes UK.

“I am hoping to raise lots more money for the Wales Air Ambulance through sponsorship when I climb Pen Y Fan on August 12.”

The Wales Air Ambulance relies on charitable donations to raise £8 million each year to keep the helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles on the road.

Jane Griffiths, Wales Air Ambulance’s Community Fundraising Manager, said: “Well done to the children for raising so much money for the Wales Air Ambulance by selling cakes that they made themselves.

“It is such a lovely and thoughtful way to help our Charity and I am sure the cakes were delicious. You are all very talented bakers and we your support will enable us to help even more people. 

 “I’d also like to wish Henry the best of luck. Climbing Pen-y-fan mountain is no easy task and we are truly grateful that you have decided to support us whilst taking on this challenge.  Diolch yn fawr!”